Hiking: What you should know about the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve

Above, the view of the lake from the dam at the start of the hike. At top left, the jagged basalt boulders on the Preserve Shoreline Loop and, top right, the open expanse of basalt rock at "Basalt Beach."

MAP: Available online at at nynjtc.org/map/franklin-lakes-nature-preserve-trail-map

HOW TO GET THERE: Take N.J. Route 208 to the Ewing Avenue exit in Franklin Lakes. Turn left at the end of the ramp (if coming from the west, turn right) and continue for about two miles until Ewing Avenue ends at High Mountain Road. Turn left and continue for 0.5 miles, past a lake and a smaller pond on the left. Just past the smaller pond, you will see a small brown sign for the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve on the left. Turn left into a driveway, then turn left again at a sign for parking and continue to a parking area just below the dam. GPS address: 1196 High Mountain Rd., North Haledon, N.J. 07508.

This hike loops around a lake, formerly known as the Haledon Reservoir. The 75-acre lake and the surrounding land was acquired by the Borough of Franklin Lakes in 2006 and is now known as the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve.

From the parking area, climb up to the dam, passing to the left of the closed gate. At the top of the dam, you'll notice (on the fence on the left) a triple white blaze that marks the start of the Preserve Shoreline Loop. You'll be following this trail around the lake.

Turn left and cross the dam, with views of the lake to the right and of the Lower Pond to the left. At the end of the dam, turn right and follow a narrow dirt path between a chain-link fence (with High Mountain Road beyond) on the left and the lake on the right. After crossing an open grassy area, you'll enter a wooded area and go across an open culvert.

Soon, the trail reaches the intersection of High Mountain Road and Ewing Avenue. Here, it bears right and begins to parallel Ewing Avenue. With a road bridge on the left, the trail crosses an inlet on cinder blocks and continues beneath tall evergreen trees.

Upon reaching the intersection with Waterview Drive, go through an opening in the fence and use the road bridge to cross the outlet of a wetland. At the end of the fence, turn right and reenter the preserve.

Just ahead, a triple-blue blaze marks the start of the Island Bridges Trail. Turn right onto this trail, which follows a dike that juts into the lake. Short paths lead out to the water on both sides of the trail, and there are fine views of High Mountain to the southwest.

In about 0.2 miles, you'll reach the end of the dike. There are plans to construct a bridge here, but for now, you'll have to retrace your steps back to the white-blazed trail, then turn right to continue in a clockwise direction around the lake.

A short distance ahead, the trail turns right and crosses a wooden bridge. It turns left, curves around a bend and dips down to cross a narrow channel. With a church parking lot on the left, the trail turns right, away from busy Ewing Avenue. It briefly parallels Molly Ann Brook, turns right to cross it on rocks, and returns to the edge of the lake.

Soon, the trail bears left and heads inland. After skirting a wet area, it emerges on Basalt Beach – an open expanse of basalt rock. Here, the trail turns left, away from the lake, then bears right, with the High Mountain Golf Club on the left, and large boulders below on the right. After crossing another open expanse of basalt rock and passing more large boulders on the left, the trail widens to a dirt-and-gravel woods road.

Soon, you'll come to a double blue blaze that marks the start of the other branch of the Island Bridges Trail. Turn right and follow this trail. Just past the junction, you'll notice several jagged basalt boulders on the left. Continue along the blue-blazed trail for about 0.2 miles to the end of the dike, with more views over the lake and High Mountain beyond, then retrace your steps to the white-blazed trail and turn right onto the wide woods road. After a while, you'll pass homes on the left and then a pine grove on the right. The white-blazed trail ends at a kiosk adjacent to the parking area where the hike began, completing the loop.

"Hiking" is provided by Daniel Chazin of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. The trail conference is a volunteer organization that builds and maintains over 1,800 miles of hiking trails and publishes a library of hiking maps and books. The Trail Conference's office is at 156 Ramapo Valley Rd. (Route 202), Mahwah; (201) 512-9348; nynjtc.org; HikeoftheWeek@aol.com.